Valorous(96)

“I think you and your lawyers helped them to see the error of their ways.”

“However it happened, as long as it happened. I’m sure it has much more to do with the outrage of the parents and the staff than it did with lawyers.”

I’m not as convinced, but I let him believe what he wants to.

“Great move with Fluff, too. Way to work your advantage.”

Smiling at his praise, I say, “You didn’t give me a chance to ask what you were doing home so early. I thought you’d be gone all day.”

“Are you complaining?” he asks with a sexy smile.

“Not at all. Just wondering what’s up.”

His smile fades, and he looks away from me.

“Did you have another fight with Hayden?” I hate that I’ve come between lifelong friends.

“No, we actually had a really good talk. I think we’ve reached an understanding of sorts.”

“That’s a relief. So what’s wrong, then?”

He twirls a strand of my hair around his finger. “While I was at the office, I had a visit from an FBI agent who told me that David Rogers was found murdered in his office this morning.”

The news hits me like a fist to the gut, and I sit up. “What? Why did they want to talk to you? Oh God, what you said on Carolyn’s show! Are you a suspect?”

“Take it easy, sweetheart. It was a formality. They needed to rule me out, and they did. He took my phone, though.”

“The pictures…”

“Were removed from the phone, but they are still safely stored in the cloud where no one but me can see them.”

“Oh, good. Okay.” I relax into the pillow once again. “Did you talk to Emmett?”

“Yes, before I left the office. He says it’s bullshit and we have nothing to worry about because I only said I wanted to kill him. I didn’t actually do it.”

“I can’t believe he’s dead. Did the FBI agent say what happened?”

“No, and I didn’t ask.”

“I guess it doesn’t matter.”

“Emmett said Rogers owed a lot of people money. There’s plenty of motive to go around, and they probably needed to rule me out. He said we shouldn’t worry about it.”

“Okay.”

“Why do you still look worried?”

“I just hate that something from my past has caused you trouble.”

“Now you know how I felt when my fame caused you trouble.”

“It sucks.”

“Yes, it does, but we’re fine, sweetheart. There’s nothing to worry about. We’re together and we have each other and everything else is just…noise. Speaking of noise… What do you say we get away from it all for a little while and go on an actual honeymoon?”

“Where do you want to go?”

“How about Mexico? Unless you want to go back to New York right away, and I’ll totally understand if you do.”

“Jeez, what a decision. Sunny Mexico or freezing New York.”

“You love New York in the winter.”

“Yes, I do.” I love New York in the winter, but I’m not sure I can go back to who and what I was before I met Flynn. Don’t I belong wherever my husband is?

“It’s completely up to you. Just say the word on what you want to do, and I’ll make it happen.”

“You’d be okay with going back to New York?”

“If that’s where you want to be, that’s where I want to be.”

“What about Hayden and the movie and work and everything?”

“He and I have come to an understanding. He knows I want and need to be with you right now. I’ll work some part of every day from wherever we are, and he was cool with that.”

“Can I think about it a little?”

“Take all the time you need.” He lets out a huge yawn that tells me he’s as tired as I am from staying up half the night before. “What do you want to do today?”

He’s given me the perfect opening to ask the questions I have about the room I discovered upstairs. He runs a finger over the furrow between my brows. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Come on, Nat. Whatever it is, just tell me.”

“I’d rather show you, if that’s okay.”

“Sure.”